Signaling device.



W. A. BISOHOFP. SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12, 1913 Patentd 0011.13, 1914.

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ILLiAM A. B'Ifscnoiw, or s'r. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SIGNALING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern: Y I

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. BISCH- on", a citizen of the lnited States, residingin the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Signaling Device, ofwhich the following is a specification. n 4 This invention relates to signaling devices for household use to indicatethe height to which water has risen, whereby a signal will be given and attention directed. to the fact that-the water has reached a predetermined height or level.

An object of the invention provide an improved signaling device adapted for use in connection with receptacles receiving the water from ice boxes and the like, whereby a signal will be given when the water in the receptacle reaches a predetermined level and before "overflowof the water, so tha't necessary attention may be given to prevent the waterfromoverflowing. h

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying vdrawings iin which I have illustrated afsuit-able embodiment of my invention, and in which- Figure 1 is, a view of a portion of a, refrigerator'or ice box' and a IGCGPHLClG'flI- ranged to receive the water flowing or dis-[ charged from the refrigerator or icebox,

' and my improved. signal device arranged to be controlled ,by the water when it reaches a predetermined level in the receptacle. Fig.

2 isa view of apartof the signaling mechanism illustrating the connections by which the signal is operatedwhen thewater reaches a predetermined level. Fig.3 is across-sectional view of the devicefurther illustrating the signal control devices.

In the drawings 1 indicates a support from "above which water is discharged through a passage 2, the water being received in a receptacle 3. The support 1 may be the bottom of an ice box or a refrigerator, from which the water is discharged through the passage 2, as suggested by the illustrationin Fig. 1.

My improved signal device is adapted for use in connection with the receptacle 3 and is controlled by the water when the water reaches a predetermined level inthe receptacle. The signal comprises a case 4 havinga hinged door 5 and containing a battery 6. The battery 6 hastwo contact terminals, one of which is designated by 7 and I Specification Letterslatent. I p I Application fi led May 12, 1913. Serial No. 766,984.

Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

which has a wire. connection IOleading to a contact member 11. The contact terminal 8 engages a circuit member 12 which is con-' the other of which is designated by 8. The terminal 7 contacts witha circuit member 9 has one end connected to a block 19 which isfrevolubly supported by thesignal support '20 which is attached to the case 4. The opposite end of the plate spring 18 presses against a lug 21 whereby said plate spring isyieldingly held in contact with the contact member 16. The revoluble block 19 supports an arm 22 which extends into a notch in the projecting end of an armature 23 which, in a well understood manner, is lon gitudinally movable within the magnet device 24 as saidmagnetdevice is intermittently energized as hereinafter. explained.

.By the connections just described it will be seen that the, contact terminal 8 has connections constituting a part of the circuit leading from the battery 6 to the magnetvdevice 24. A support 25is mounted within a case 26 to which access may be had through pivoted door or closure 27. A lever 28 is pivoted to the support 25 andis movable to engage with the member 11. A wire-28 leads fromthe support 25 to a screw 29 supported by the signal support 20. ,A wire 30 leads from the screw 29 to the magnet device 24:. a

From the. foregoing it will be understood that the circuit isv completed when the lever .28 engages the. member 11, and that the magnet 24 will {then be energized effectively to raise the armature When the armature 23 is raised the block 19 is turned, moving the plate spring 18 out of contact with thecontact member 16, thereby breaking the circuit and permitting the armature 23 to drop and the spring 18 again to move into contact with the contact member 16. As soon as the plate spring again contacts with the contact member 16 the magnet is again energized and the armature 23 raised, which operation is rapidly repeated, thereby resulting in rapid rocking of the block 19. The arm 22 carries a hammer or striker 31 which, by the rocking action of the block 19,

hold the lever 28 out of contact with the member 11, thereby preventing the circuit from being completed as a result of which the signal is idle. Should the water rise to the float device 33 the latter will rise with the water and will engage the member 11 and complete the circuit, resulting in operation of the signal as long as the lever 28 is in contact with the member 11.

To the upper end of the case 4: a hinge 3st is attached one wing of the hinge being also attached to the under side of the support 1.

A spring 35 in connection with the hinge holds the case 4: in a vertlcal position with the float 33 below the signal mechanism as illustrated in Fig. 1. Thus the signal mechanism and the float extend into the receptacle 3 but may be raised to permit removal of the receptacle by an accessible connection 36. The connection 36 may be engaged with a hook 37 to hold the signal in its raised position while the receptacle 3 is being removed or placed in position. The hook 3S supports the connection 36 normally.

hen applied as illustrated in Fig. l the float 33 holds the lever 28 out of contact with the member 11 until the water rises to the predetermined level in the receptacle 3. hen the water reaches the predetermined level the circuit is completed and the signal is operated continuously until the receptacle and water are removed.

It will be understood that I do not restrict myself to specific features except where set forth in the appended claims.

hat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A signal device comprising a support, a case pivoted to said support, a spring actuating said case away from said support, signal mechanism carried by said case, a magnet for operating said signal mechanism, a battery in said case for energizing said magnet, a circuit from said battery to said magnet, means for holding said case close to said support in opposition to the power of said spring, and means for maintaining said circuit open when said case is held close to said support as aforesaid.

2. A signal device comprising a support, a case pivoted to the under side of said support, a signal supported by said case, an

'ele'ctromagnet supported by said case and arranged to operate said signal, a battery, a circuit from said battery to said electromagnet whereby said electromagnet may be energized from said battery, a lever operable to open and to close said circuit, means for moving said case and signal close against the under side of said support to permit the placing and removal of a water receptacle, and means for actuating said lever by the water within the receptacle effectively to close said circuit and enable said electromagnet to operate said signal.

3. The combination with a support, a passage for discharging water from above said support, and a receptacle arranged to receive the water discharged through said passage, of a case pivoted to said support and extending below the plane of the upper edge of said receptacle, a spring holding said case in the position aforesaid, a signal carried by said case, an electromagnet carried by said case for operating said signal, a battery for energizing said electromagnet, a circuit from said battery to said electromagnet, a lever for opening and closing said circuit, means for moving said case above the plane of the upper edge of said receptacle to permit removal of said receptacle, and means in connection with said lever for actuating said lever to hold the circuit open when said case is held above the plane of the upper edge of said receptacle, said means being also actuated by the water in the receptacle to close said circuit when the water rises to a predetermined depth, substantially as described.

In witneses whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM A. BISCHOFF.

Witnesses:

R. M. LAWRENCE, J. D. RIPPEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

